PRAGUE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Czech coalition parties clashed over a corruption scandal on Sunday, which could potentially affect the outcome of a no-confidence vote called by the opposition for Tuesday.
The smallest coalition party, the centrist Public Affairs (VV), said it had doubts whether to continue supporting the cabinet due to allegations of manipulation of public tenders at the environment ministry.
The clash is the biggest rift in the centre-right coalition which won a general election in May mainly on promises to narrow the budget gap and fight graft, which has been widespread in the central European country.
The scandal has already forced the resignation of Environment Minister Pavel Drobil, a member of Prime Minister Petr Necas' Civic Democratic Party, earlier this week. Drobil denied allegations that he tried to cover up corruption in his department.
Radek John, who heads the Public Affairs party, said after a nearly six-hour coalition meeting on Sunday that his party demanded guarantees the cabinet will take steps to fight graft.
'(Our) deputies want assurances that certain steps against corruption will be taken,' John told reporters. 'There are still points that need to be sorted out.'
John declined to say how his party would vote in the no-confidence motion but said he hoped a satisfactory agreement would be found on Monday, when another round of talks among leaders of the three coalition parties would take place.
The no-confidence motion was called by the centre-left Social Democrats in response to the scandal.
The centre-right coalition has 118 seats in the 200-seat lower house and it will easily win the vote if it sticks together.
(Reporting by Jan Korselt, writing by Jan Lopatka; editing
by Elizabeth Fullerton) Keywords: CZECH GOVERNMENT/ (prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The smallest coalition party, the centrist Public Affairs (VV), said it had doubts whether to continue supporting the cabinet due to allegations of manipulation of public tenders at the environment ministry.
The clash is the biggest rift in the centre-right coalition which won a general election in May mainly on promises to narrow the budget gap and fight graft, which has been widespread in the central European country.
The scandal has already forced the resignation of Environment Minister Pavel Drobil, a member of Prime Minister Petr Necas' Civic Democratic Party, earlier this week. Drobil denied allegations that he tried to cover up corruption in his department.
Radek John, who heads the Public Affairs party, said after a nearly six-hour coalition meeting on Sunday that his party demanded guarantees the cabinet will take steps to fight graft.
'(Our) deputies want assurances that certain steps against corruption will be taken,' John told reporters. 'There are still points that need to be sorted out.'
John declined to say how his party would vote in the no-confidence motion but said he hoped a satisfactory agreement would be found on Monday, when another round of talks among leaders of the three coalition parties would take place.
The no-confidence motion was called by the centre-left Social Democrats in response to the scandal.
The centre-right coalition has 118 seats in the 200-seat lower house and it will easily win the vote if it sticks together.
(Reporting by Jan Korselt, writing by Jan Lopatka; editing
by Elizabeth Fullerton) Keywords: CZECH GOVERNMENT/ (prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.